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Noah was right.

She was a fucking thorn.

"Where are you?" she asked then.

"Taking care of business."

"What…kindof business?"

"The kind you don’t want me to talk about."

"I need to see you," she continued to say, her voice torn and hushed. "So badly."

"We've been here before, Hope," I told her. "And I alwayslose."

"I know, oh god, I know." The pain and sadness in her voice broke me. "I just–" Sniffling, she stifled a sob. "I need you."

"You done fixing him, yet?" I countered heatedly. "Because if you are, then say the word, sweetheart, and I'll get in my truck and come get you."

There was a long pause of silence, and then she whispered, "Hunter, please don’t give up on me." A pained sob tore out of her chest and straight into mine. "There's so much we need to discuss. If we could talk, in person, figure something out. Oh god, I need you…please just come back…I need you!"

I shook my head and stared down at the dead man looking back up at me.

Like fuck, I'd given up on her.

Everything I was doing was because I loved her.

I just couldn’t stick around and watch the inevitable.

Watch her withhim.

"I love you," I told her. "But I can't watch it."

"Watch what?"

"You," I snarled. "With him." I shook my head and bit back a growl. "I've been watching it for months, and I can't do it anymore. Notnow."

"You know how I feel –" she began to say, but I cut her off, needing to get this shit off my shoulders.

"It's not enough for me. Your words? Your promises? None of it is ever going to be enough for me," I practically roared. Goddamn this woman could make me lose every fucking ounce of self-control. "Not until you're mine," I added. "All mine." Sighing heavily, I said, "I was never good at sharing the things I wanted, Hope. And I've never wanted anything as badly as I want you."

"I feel the same way," she cried. "And Iamyours!"

"Thenleavehim," I demanded. "Leave him because you want me more. Leave him because you love memore!"

"I do," she strangled out. "I will."

"Then call me when you act on your feelings," I hissed. "Because I’m done with this, HC. I'm through with being your sidepiece."

****

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hope

He hung up on me.

Numb, I sat on the couch and stared down at the phone in my hands.

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